BioAid Hearing Aids

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The Biologically Inspired Hearing Aid

The core of the BioAid project is a novel hearing aid algorithm based on our knowledge of the biological processes that occur in the ear.

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NEWS FLASH: August 21st, 2013 – NEWAPP RELEASED

Now available on the App Store, Aud1 is a new assistive listening app that implements the features requested by the BioAid user community. These features include, but are not limited to . .

• Dual algorithm technology, allowing settings for each ear to be adjusted independently.
• Advanced connectivity options, allowing use of high quality audio peripherals to improve sound quality.
• Stereo linkage technology to preserve spatial cues when the app is used with stereo input hardware.
• Fine grain control over the dynamic range of the processed sound.
• High optimization for extremely low processing delay.
• Automatic storage of preferred settings, even if the device runs out of power.
• Adjustable input and output gain controls to fully utilize the dynamic range of the device.
• Detection of accidental removal of headphones, preventing annoying feedback in public places.

Aud1 pushes the boundaries of assistive listening technology on mobile platforms and it is available for download now.

A free implementation of the BioAid algorithm can be downloaded on the app store. The app turns your iOS device into a hearing aid by processing sound from the microphone, then delivering the processed sound over headphones in real time. Care has been taken to make the user interface to the BioAid app very simple. However, please read the information on this site to get the best possible user experience.

The algorithm source code is freely available. This allows others to contribute by creating and evaluating their own implementations of the hearing aid.
Thank you for your interest in the BioAid project.

The Laryngospasms: Waking Up Is Hard To Do!

History[edit]

The group can be traced back to a 1990 Christmas party for students of the Minneapolis School of Anesthesia. A few of the then-students were singing various songs, one of them being Neil Sedaka's Breaking Up Is Hard To Do. When a senior student suggested that the song be sung as "Waking Up Is Hard To Do", the group was formed. The group's first performance was for the graduation ceremonies of the 1991 class of the Minneapolis School of Anesthesia. This first performance was witnessed by several officers of the Minnesota Association of Nurse Anesthetists. These officers approached the group and ask them to perform at the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists' National Conference, to be held inNashville, Tennessee, late in the summer of 1991. This was the group's first national performance.

Seven Reasons to attend our Acoustic Neuroma San Diego Support Group:

1) Find out you're not crazy: In many cases, your physician may never have heard of the symptoms you're complaining about. Frequently, the surgery team does little follow-up with their patients. You will be passed on to your regular physician, somebody that knows little about AN's. For example, my physician asked me recently about my AN and I told him SSD was a huge problem. We were sitting knees to knees in a small examination room and my physician has a huge voice. He asked, "Can you hear me?" I replied that I could and he told me I had nothing to worry about. 

2) Reassure others that you're not crazy: If we don't have facial paralysis, most of us have a silent illness - one that doesn't show or display anything to the outside world. All of our
boo-boo's are inside. If you have relatives or friends who are "doubtful" about your suffering, bring them along to a meeting. There you'll find others who....

• Say "what?" a million times a day

• Are exhausted at 3 o'clock in the afternoon

• Complain about balloon head, or wonky head

• Walk into door jambs

• Stagger around parking lots

• Choose restaurants, not on service nor on the food, but on the ACOUSTICS!

3) Your caregiver(s) get a chance to talk to each other. They play "second banana" all
the time to you and your illness, but they are critically important. While we all appreciate
them, who have they got to vent to? At meetings, they can converse with an understanding ear.

4) Information about physicians, treatments, audiologists etc. is often shared.

5) You can find others in a particular sub-group of people...i.e. young people under
30; people with BAHA implants; people over 70; musicians. We have one small
group who all had surgery around the same time and meet for lunches and compare notes
on their progress.

6) People share tips about hearing devices; coping in stores, seating in restaurants,
dealing with people who think you're drunk; explaining your illness to children etc.,
etc.

7) You can help others! Giving away what you've got that's helpful is very therapeutic. If
you want to help with the group, let me know. You can open and fold chairs, hand out
nametags, help with the sign-in sheet. If you have ideas about speakers, or locations for
meetings, or for general improvements, let us know.

Next Meeting: Saturday, June 11th. 1:00 - 4:00 Mission Valley Library, San Diego.
RSVP: Helen McHargue at Foodsmarts@gmail.com or 760-728-0309

Animation of Acoustic Neuroma Growth

Here's an excellent animation of the growth of an acoustic neuroma from the Acoustic Neuroma Association NSW. Their website address is: www.users.tpg.com.au

Hearing in Restaurants

From KARE11. com/advice for foodies with hearing loss

MINNEAPOLIS -- With new restaurants opening nearly ever week, the Twin Cities restaurant scene is hot! But for anyone with hearing challenges, choosing a new eatery can be harder than deciding what to eat.

Local hearing care professional Taiha Wagner joined us on KARE11 News @ 4 with some advice for foodies with hearing loss on how to make the most of their night out.  The following is a Q and A with Taiha:

Q: How many people struggle with hearing challenges?

·         As of 2015, 48 million people have significant hearing loss and struggle with hearing challenges (according to the CHC).

·         Everything from ear infections to prolonged exposure to loud electronics or music… even everyday noise like traffic can hurt a someone’s hearing.

·         What people may not realize is some hearing loss is completely preventable, but it’s not reversible.

·         That’s why it’s so important to have your hearing checked annually, and if there’s a need, to get the proper care. Unfortunately, many people overlook it or are too embarrassed to seek the help they need.

·         And often times, hearing loss can keep people from enjoying life to the fullest -- many choosing to avoid loud situations, like restaurants.  

Q:  Are there things that restaurants can do better to help diners with hearing challenges?

·         It’s important for them to just be aware that many of their customers likely have hearing challenges.

·         Restaurants can offer printed lists of daily specials so that no one misses out.

·         And restaurants that are accommodating to the needs of their diners will likely have repeat customers. It can be as simple as letting a server know who they should stand next to when talking to the table.  

Q: So what can people who have hearing loss do to still enjoy a night out at a crowded restaurant?

A: Read Online Reviews

·         Many restaurant rating systems now include noise level as one of the criteria.

·         For example, Zagat now has a "Good for Quiet Conversation" search category. Others likely do as well.

A: Look for Sound Absorbing Decor

·         When you’re doing you research online, be sure to check out the photos in addition to the menu.

·         Look for restaurants that have carpet, drapes, broken walls instead of walls of windows and booths. All of these things help to dampen the sounds of a busy restaurant.

A: Be Choosy About Your Seat

·         Once you find a restaurant that you want to try, call ahead to ask for a corner table or a table near a wall.

·         Walls eliminate distractions and help buffer some of the noise.

·         A booth is also often a good choice if it has high back seats.

·         If you’re dining with a group, arrive early so that you can pick the best seat at the table, based on your hearing needs.

A: Let Technology Help

·         Hearing aids have come a long way, and there are many different state-of-the-art options available.

·         In fact, many new hearing aids even have crowd-settings that help direct your hearing and limit background noise.

Magnetic pulses to the brain deliver long-lasting relief for tinnitus patients

Here's a very interesting article for all of us who suffer with tinnitus.



Magnetic pulses to the brain deliver long-lasting relief for tinnitus patients: Depression treatment tool holds tremendous promise for patients with debilitating condition: In the largest US clinical trial of its kind researchers found that transcranial magnetic stimulation significantly improved tinnitus symptoms for more than half of study participants.

Watch and Wait

A very interesting article about "watching and waiting."


http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/76484297/why-i-let-a-brain-tumour-go-untouched-for-10-years

Meeting: March 5th, 2016

Date/Time: Saturday, March 5th, 2016

1:00-4:00

Location: San Diego Public Library - La Jolla - Riford Branch

7555 Draper Avenue at Pearl Street

La Jolla, CA 92037

Directions: Take the La Jolla Parkway Exit from the 15 freeway

Follow the road which turns into Torrey Pines Rd.

Go 1.5 miles and turn left onto Girard Ave.

Take 1st right onto Pearl Street for .2 miles

Turn right on Draper Avenue

Library is on the right.

There is a small parking lot and street parking around the area.

Topic:

San Diego Local Support Group “Caring and Sharing”

For this meeting, there will be no guest speaker. You will be speakers. Everybody who wishes to do so will have 5 or 10 minutes (depending on the number who attend) to share with the group. Suggested topics for discussion:

• How you were diagnosed
• What treatment you chose or are considering and why?
• For post-treatment patients, how you are coping?
• Caregivers: How, what, when and why?
• Family members/loved ones: How your family life has been changed post AN.
• The single best piece of advice you can offer to your fellow AN’ers, caregivers or family members.

This meeting will be very informal. We’re planning to have plenty of time to meet, greet, socialize and compare notes. As most of you know, our own membership has an incredible reservoir of real life experiences they are willing to share.

If you have a hearing aid or hearing device that you are pleased with, bring it along so the others can see it. If you have been prescribed a medication that is effective, bring it along and others can take note for discussions with their own doctors. If you’ve had successful physical or vestibular therapy bring information about it.

We will also have copies of the amazing list of resources Wanda Crook prepared for us last year. And, our list of free referrals will be on hand. Take this opportunity to update your library of AN literature. We have updated versions of most of the AN titles.

Please join us at the beautiful La Jolla library for a great afternoon!

Please RSVP to your local support group leader:

Helen McHargue: email: foodsmarts@gmail.com Phone: 760-728-0309

Cell Phone on day of meeting only: (619) 602-8175